Central Jersey Daily Rundown, Thursday, Dec. 20

The Needy Cases Fund has collected donations from a caring community and distributed the funds to local agencies that use them to directly support their work. These organizations improve the lives of our neighbors in need and you can help the agencies accomplish their missions.
Alexander Lewis, Home News Tribune and Courier News

Garden club creates holiday arrangements

Members of the Bridgewater Garden Club crafted baskets of fragrant arrangements containing bright seasonal greenery, berries and bows to decorate the Zufall Health medical center at 71 Fourth St., Somerville. “On behalf of the children, women and men we serve each day and all of the Zufall staff, we thank the Bridgewater Garden Club for their long-standing support as we continue to bring essential medical and dental care to our community’s neediest residents,” said Eva Turbiner, president and chief executive officer, Zufall Health, in a news release. Visit www.zufallhealth.org.

Former Gov. James Florio(Photo11: ~Courtesy of state Sen. Patrick Diegnan)

Gov. Florio holds book event

Former Gov. Jim Florio will be discussing his 2018 book, "Standing on Principle: Lessons Learned in Public Life," at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 21, at the New Jersey Law Center, located at 1 Constitution Square in New Brunswick. Florio, 81, is the second oldest living former New Jersey Governor and made achievements as a progressive reformer. He enacted an assault weapons ban in 1990 that remains one of the toughest in the nation. He has said that he wrote the book, in part, to encourage the activists who are working to get gun-control laws passed in the aftermath of recent public massacres.

Winners of 2019 Salute to Tourism Awards

Somerset County Tourism has announced the winners of the 6th Annual Somerset County Salute to Tourism Awards Program, which honors employees and organizations throughout Somerset County, in four categories: Economic Champion, Service Excellence, Tourism Champion and new this year, Outstanding Event. The Salute to Tourism Awards program will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, at the Bridgewater Marriott, 700 Commons Way in Bridgewater. The 2019 Salute to Tourism winners: Service Excellence — Gina DiFrancesco, Rooms Controller, Bridgewater Marriott; Economic Champion — The Center for Contemporary Art; Tourism Champion — Tour of Somerville; and Outstanding Event — Somerset County’s Weekend Journey Through the Past. Registration and details about Salute to Tourism are at www.bit.ly/Salute2019.

Wegmans recalls cauliflower veggie mixes

Wegmans is recalling fresh vegetable mixes that contain cauliflower because of a threat of E. coli. Wegmans announced the voluntary recall Dec. 18, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The products were sold in the produce department between Dec. 7 and 18, and have use-by dates of Dec. 11 through Dec. 22. The recalled products are:

The recall was initiated by Produce Packaging Inc. based in Cleveland, which supplies these products to Wegmans. The products were distributed to all 98 stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and Massachusetts. The supplier told Wegmans the products could be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7), which causes diarrhea with bloody stools. Customers can call Wegmans Consumer Affairs at 855-934-3663.

Park projects bill passes Senate

A bill sponsored by Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex) and Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Hunterdon/Mercer/Middlesex/Somerset), which would appropriate funds for capital projects and park development, recently passed the Senate. The bill, S-3209, would appropriate $2.94 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund capital projects and park development on lands administered by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 40-0. Visit www.njsendems.com and www.senatenj.com.

Students visit Naval Weapons Station Earle

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, Social Studies Instructor Ed Graf and a group of his students from Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School (SCVTHS) in Bridgewater were invited to attend the dedication of a newly renovated barracks in honor of fallen U.S. Navy Seal, SO2 Matthew Kantor at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck. Petty Officer Kantor was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan on Nov. 1, 2012. As part of last year’s “Proud to be an American Day” at SCVTHS and in the memory of Kantor, Graf and his students raised $1,600 through a special Tshirt fundraiser. The money was raised and donated for the purpose of purchasing a plaque and signage at the renovated barracks. Visit www.scvths.org.

Club renews Hamilton Boulevard adoption

Michael Zushma, president of the South Plainfield Lions Club, has renewed the group’s Adopt-A-Spot agreement with the South Plainfield Clean Business Association. Three to seven people will continue to collect litter from Hamilton Boulevard where it runs along Route I-287. This stretch of road, from Stelton Road to South Clinton Avenue, fronts on The Home Depot. During a recent cleanup, the group filled six bags with trash in only an hour. For more information about the Adopt-A-Spot program, contact the Clean Communities Coordinator at 908-226-7621 or email atempel@southplainfieldnj.com.

Consumers in Enable’s Princeton day program and volunteers from Bloomberg are working on making Build-a-Bears. One bear for the consumer to take home and one to donate to The Children’s Home Society. ~Courtesy of Enable

Volunteers from the Raritan Corporation, as part their Better Communities Volunteer project, recently donated time at four Alternatives properties and also raised $1,680 through a company-wide employee fundraiser to offset some of the costs associated with these projects. Alternatives, Inc. is a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with special needs support themselves, gain self-determination and achieve the highest degree of independence possible within their communities. For more information, visit www.alternativesinc.org or call Alternatives at 908-685-1444, ext. 226. ~Courtesy of Alternatives, Inc.

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BRAVO! welcomes Mark Gimbl

BRAVO! Group Services, headquartered in Bridgewater, has hired Mark Gimbl as Portfolio Manager supporting its Life Sciences clients. Gimbl comes to BRAVO! with more than 12 years of experience in various project and facilities management positions. Visit www.bravogroupservices.com.

YWCA Princeton announces honorees

YWCA Princeton has announced the honorees of the 2019 Tribute to Women Awards, who will be recognized on Friday, March 8, at Hyatt Regency Princeton. The 2019 Tribute to Women Award recipients are: Barbara Purnell, community advocate and volunteer (Waxwood Lifetime Award for Service to the YWCA Princeton); Linda Oppenheim, community activist (Fannie Floyd Racial Justice Award); Zoe Brookes, executive director and co-founder of Trenton Circus Squad; Tracy McManimon, senior vice president and chief underwriting officer at NJM; Linda Schwimmer, president and CEO at the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute; Martha Sword, community leader; Robin Walton, vice president of Community and Government Affairs at Thomas Edison State University; and Patrizia Zita, principal at the Kaufman Zita Group. Tickets will go on sale in early January, at www.ywcaprinceton.org/tribute, and a special rate for emerging young professionals will be available.

Doris Cheung(Photo11: ~Courtesy of Lynn Goodwin)

Cheung joins firm's Litigation Practice Group

The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., in Bridgewater, welcomes Doris Cheung as an Associate. She joins the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, concentrating in the area of complex insurance fraud and healthcare litigation with an emphasis on Anti-Kickback Laws, Anti-Money Laundering, and Improper Licensing Regulations. Prior to joining Norris McLaughlin, Cheung was a litigation associate for a firm specializing in plaintiffs' work on behalf of a Fortune 100 insurance company. Visit norrismclaughlin.com.

Whitehouse School seeks memorabilia

Whitehouse School is currently commemorating its 100th anniversary. The elementary school educates youngsters in the Whitehouse Station section of Readington, and is reaching out to local residents to see if they have any photos or mementos associated with the school to share with current students as part of the celebration. The school is not looking for donations. All objects will be either scanned or photographed, and returned to the owners. Recollections are also welcome. A video containing these memorabilia will be publicly posted on the school’s website in the new year. Email school librarian Valerie Zanardi at vzanardi@readington.k12.nj.us.

Library closure

Piscataway Public Library will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday. It will also be closed on Monday, Dec. 31, and Tuesday, Jan. 1, for the New Year’s holiday. Visit piscatawaylibrary.org.

Foundation recognized

DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation recognizes The Roma Bank Community Foundation for their donation in support of the foundation’s efforts to prepare today’s students for a lifetime of financial responsibility through engaging financial literacy education programs delivered free to schools and communities. Their donation will serve to support the foundation’s signature curriculum known as The FitKit H.S. Youth Personal Finance Program, aimed at educating high school students about personal finance. The FitKit is an approach that focuses on building skills specifically related to personal finance and includes teach-the-teacher, cues and background information, pre- and post-assessments, standards mapped unit and lesson plans, power point presentations, innovative peer-to-per videos, student background information, study guides and content that empowers and engages students. DoughMain Financial Literacy Foundation: http://dmfinancialliteracy.org/; Roma Bank Community Foundation: www.romabankcommunityfoundation.org.

Linden Superintendent of Schools Danny A. Robertozzi with some of the teachers who took part in “Caroling for a Cause.” From left are Santa Claus, also known as School No. 5 teacher Kayla Kluse; School No. 5 teacher Vanessa Kennaway, School No. 4 teacher Michelle Schweikardt, and School No. 10 teacher Linda Burt-Moquete.(Photo11: ~Courtesy of Linden Public Schools)

‘Caroling for a Cause’

Members of the Linden Public Schools family traveled around town on Monday, Dec. 10, “Caroling for a Cause,” spreading joy with holiday music and accepting donations for the district’s third annual holiday toy and gift drive. Three buses transported carolers — along with Santa Claus — around the city to visit homes of residents who registered. After the caravan hit all the houses on the list, everyone returned to Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade in downtown Linden for cookies and cocoa, and performances by the Linden High School Madrigals and Choir. Carolers accepted donations for the holiday gift drive, which will help needy families around Linden. Each school in the district set up a giving tree in November with paper ornaments that identified gift requests. The schools accepted donations of toys and gifts, as well as cash and gift cards to be used to buy more gifts to be given to families who were identified by school-based social workers. The drive has gathered more than 1,000 gifts. Aside from individual school collections, among those to donate gifts were St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, the Reformed Church of Linden, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, Calvin Presbyterian Church, and the senior citizens of Murawski Towers.Visit www.linden.k12.nj.us.